India vs New Zealand 2017, 3rd ODI: 5 things we learnt from the match
A couple of terrific death overs from Jasprit Bumrah gave India a win in the series decider at Kanpur after they put on 337 batting first, courtesy centuries from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. New Zealand, not a side known to give up, hit back through Colin Munro and Kane Williamson before Tom Latham took up the finishing role and nearly pulled off an astounding run chase.
They eventually fell short by six runs but showed that they are capable of competing in this part of the world. Much of the match revolved around the Sharma-Kohli association with very few giving New Zealand a chance. But under lights, with the dew setting in, the ball came nicely onto the bat and New Zealand made it count.
Tom Latham, the hero of the tour for the Kiwis, smashed yet another half-century but just couldn't see it through till the end as he misjudged a run and ran himself out in the finishing stages of the game. Colin de Grandhomme, who struggled to time the ball, could not quite manage 15 in the final over bowled by Bumrah.
#5 The Hitman overcomes left-arm woes
Rohit Sharma had a disappointing series until today owing to his failings against the left-arm seam of Trent Boult. The Mumbaikar needed to get into his groove and he did that with aplomb, compiling a breathtaking 147 to take India to a majestic total.
The run machine was in his zone as he and Kohli, probably the most dangerous pair in world cricket today, took on the Black Caps bowlers with no mercy. Adam Milne kept probing with the short ball, but the Mumbaikar is an adept hooker of the cricket ball and dug into the quick bowler, smashing some jaw-dropping shots. He raced to a fifteenth ODI hundred in no time.